Build delayed road or pay heavy price: Final warning to BMC boss

The BMC-run KEM hospital. File pic

The State Human Rights Commission has initiated suo motu action based on a news report in this paper regarding a road that hasn't been constructed despite being planned 30 years ago. Even after the court's direction, the BMC didn't inform Chandivli residents about the hearing nor took any firm steps. In a recent hearing, the commission raised strong objections over the slow progress and stated that only after the news article in this paper and our intervention, steps seem to have been taken at a snail's pace.

The commission further ordered that a final chance be granted for due and proper compliance with the directions, else heavy costs would be imposed on the municipal commissioner. The next hearing is on February 27.

Demolition carried out by BMC on February 5

Residents of Chandivli have long been demanding a 90 feet road to decongest the area, which is currently dependent on two routes - Chandivli Farm Road and DP Road 9, both of which are choked due to increased traffic after the corporation granted permissions to build many residential and commercial towers in the area over the last decade. The 90 feet road will connect Saki Naka to Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) via Chandivli Farm Road.

In 2021, the BMC only built one-third of the 600-metre-long road, where currently two-wheelers, trucks, and garbage dumpers are parked. The land through which the rest of the road is supposed to pass belongs to two parties, a private developer, and a central government corporation, but it is being occupied by encroachers. The Chandivali Citizens Welfare Association (CCWA) went on a hunger strike on August 20 after no steps were taken by the corporation in the previous six months despite assurances.

The commission, by invoking powers under Section 12 (1) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, took suo moto cognisance and scheduled the first hearing on August 21, followed by four more hearings on September 15, October 31, December 20, and January 24. In the first hearing, the commission stated that due to delays on the part of the corporation, the human rights of the residents in the said locality are being violated.

The proposed road in Chandivali will run parallel to the DP Road No. 9, which houses Powai Police Station

The commission passed an order stating, "We failed to understand how the municipal commissioner has been functioning and discharging his duties, particularly with reference to the orders and directions of the courts, as admittedly for the last ten years, no attempt whatsoever for implementation of the directions by the courts was made, which only reflects a casual attitude and lethargy on its part."

"Despite directions by the Human Rights Commission in the first hearing, the municipal corporation has neither informed us nor provided a copy of the order. We have been fighting for the road for years, and now we are also ready to submit our input on the matter," said Mandeep Singh Makkar, founder of the Chandivali Citizens Welfare Association (CCWA). Makkar said that they will seek intervention in the matter.

Meanwhile, the BMC started demolition on February 5 and demolished a few structures, but the action was stopped after some time. Sunil Rathod, head of the Development Plan department of the BMC, and Dhanaji Herlekar, assistant commissioner of L ward, didn't respond to calls.

Feb 27
Date of next hearing

Rs 1,500 cr
Amount BMC will spend on policy